Shipping container combination



Oct. 29, 1968 A. E. PRICE 3,408,027

SHIPPING CONTAINER COMBINATION Filed Jan. 26, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F162,3 FI6.I

INVENTOR ALBERT E. PRICE A TTYS.

Oct. 29, 1968 A E. PRICE 3,408,027

SHIPPING CONTAINER COMBINATION Filed Jan. 26, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2United States Patent 3,408,027 SHIPPING CONTAINER COMBINATION Albert E.Price, Brookfield, Ohio, assignor to General American TransportationCorporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 26,1967, Ser. No. 611,953 6 Claims. (Cl. 248-151) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE The combination comprising a shipping container including asubstantially rectangular base of rigid structure, four identical rigidlegs adapted to support the respective corners of the base, and fouridentical rigid adapter devices adapted detachably to connect therespective legs to the respective corners of the base; where in eachadapter device comprises a rigid body having an upstanding leg openingformed therethrough that is adapted removably to receive in either endthereof the upper end of any one of the legs so that the adapter devicemay be mounted in either of two reversely related positions upon theupper end of the received leg and may then be adjusted vertically in itsmounted position thereupon, a part carried by the body and cooperatingwith the received leg for restraining the adapter device in itsvertically adjusted mounted position upon the upper end of the receivedleg, a rigid primary projection rigidly carried by the body andextending laterially outwardly therefrom, a rigid arm rigidly carried bythe body and extending longitudinally outwardly therefrom, and a rigidsecondary projection rigidly carried by the arm and extending laterallyoutwardly therefrom, wherein the promary projection and the secondaryprojection are disposed in substantially parallel longitudinallyspacedapart relation and separated by a fixed distance corresponding tothe fixed distance between primary and secondary holes in a hole set,wherein four of such hole sets are formed in the two sides of the baserespectively adjacent to the four corners thereof.

The present invention relates to the combination comprising a shippingcontainer provided with a rigid rectangular base, four identical rigidlegs adapted removably to support the respective corners of the base,and four identical rigid adapter devices adapted detachably to connectthe respective four legs to the respective two sides of the base at therespective four corners thereof, wherein each one of the adapter devicesis so constructed and arranged that any one of the four adapter devicesmay removably receive any one of the four legs and may, in turn, bedetachably connected to either of the two sides of the base adjacent toeither of the ends thereof; whereby, in the combination, right-hand andleft-hand adapter devices are altogether eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide in the combinationdescribed, the adapter device of improved construction and arrangementand comprising a minimum number of individual parts formed of sheetsteel and unified into a strong, rigid structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide in the combinationdescribed, the adapter device of improved construction and arrangementand comprising primary and secondary projections arranged inlongitudinally spaced-apart relation and extending in the lateraldirection, wherein the primary and secondary projections are adapted tobe removably received in corresponding primary and secondary holes inany one of four hole sets respectively arranged in the two sides of thebase at the four respective corners thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in the combinationdescribed, the adapter device of improved construction and arrangement,wherein the longitudinally spaced-apart and laterally extending primaryand secondary projections are rigidly carried by the body of the adapterdevice, so as to eliminate any substantial pivoting of the one of thelegs received by the adapter device with respect to the adapter device,in

order to eliminate any substantial relative movement of the shippingcontainer with respect to the four supporting legs when the shippingdevice is supported by the four legs upon the ground.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular constructionand arrangement of the elements of the combination described, wherebythe above-outlined and additional operating features thereof areattained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following specifications, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a shipping container combinationembodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front perspective view of the rear portion ofthe shipping container, as shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the hole setthat is provided in the side of the base thereof adjacent to thecorresponding rear end thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front perspective view of the rearcorner of the shipping container, together with the associated adapterdevice and leg as shown in FIG. 1, except that the adapter device isillustrat-ed in its detached position with respect to the adjacent sideof the base of the shipping container;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front elevational view of the adapter device, asshown in FIG. 3, and illustrating the cooperation thereof with theadjacent side of the base of the shipping container;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the adapter device, as shown in FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of the adapter device, thisview being taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 6-6 inFIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic illustration of the arrangement of theholes respectively provided in the upper end of the leg and in the bodyof the adapter device; and

FIG. 8 is a reduced side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1,illustrating the movement of the freight container in the longitudinaldirection by skidding thereof as permitted by the four supporting legs,and Without swaying of the legs with respect to the base of the shippingcontainer.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 8 of the drawings, theshipping container combination there illustrated, and embodying thefeatures of the present invention, essentially comprises a shippingcontainer proper 10 of a box-like form, including a substantiallyrectangular rigid base 11, four upstanding rigid legs adapted to supportthe base 11 of the freight container 10 adjacent to the respective fourcorners thereof, and four adapter devices adapted detachably to connectthe respective four legs 20 to the base 11 adjacent to the respective'four corners thereof.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the shipping container 10 may be ofsubstantially conventional construction including, in addition to thebase 11, a substantially horizontal bottom wall 12 formed of steel, asubstantially horizontal top wall 13, a pair of upstanding end walls 14and a pair of upstanding side walls 15; whereby the shipping container10 is of box-like form as noted above.

In the arrangement, the base 11 essentially comprises a 3 pair oflongitudinally extending side members 16 formed of steel and disposed inlaterally spaced-apart relation, and a pair of laterally extending endmembers 17 formed of steel and disposed in longitudinally spacedapartrelation. Each of the side members 16 has a pair of hole sets formedtherein respectively adjacent to the opposite end portions thereof; eachof the hole sets includes a primary hole 16a, located adjacent to oneend of the side member 16 and extending laterally thereinto, and asecondary hole 16!), located adjacent to the primary hole 16a and spacedlongitudinally a fixed distance therefrom and away from thecorresponding one end of the side member 11 and extending laterallythereinto. Accordingly, in each hole set, the primary hole 16a and thesecondary hole 16b are symmetrically located with respect to theadjacent end of the side member 16 and are longitudinally spaced-apartwith respect to each other the previously mentioned fixed distance, andare positioned in parallel relation with respect to each other. Also, inthe arrangement, the primary hole 16a is of fixed size and ofpredetermined lateral section; whereby, as illustrated, the primary hole16b may be square in lateral section. Similarly, in the arrangement, thesecondary hole 16b is of fixed size and of predetermined lateralsection; whereby as illustrated, the secondary hole 16b may be round inlateral section.

In order to reinforce the corners of the base 11, four blocks 18 arerespectively incorporated therein; each of the blocks 18 is formed ofsteel and is suitably secured, as by welding, to the adjacent portion ofthe bottom wall 12 and to the adjacent end portions of the side member16 and the end member 17. Also, each of the blocks 18 has a laterallyextending hole 18a formed thereinto;

which hole 18a is arranged in lateral alignment with the adjacentprimary hole 16:: formed in the end of the side member 16.

As best shown in FIG. 3, each of the legs 20 comprises an upstandingtubular body 21 that is substantially square in horizontal section, anda foot 22 carried on the extreme lower end of the body 21, the foot 22being of the skid-type accommodating the support of the leg 20 upon theground or earth, as explained more fully hereinafter. Preferably, thetubular body 21, as Well as the foot 22, are formed of sheet metalconstruction, sheet steel being the normal material of construction.Also, a plurality of holes 21a are arranged in the upper end of the body21 and disposed in vertically spaced-apart relation with respect to eachother. As best shown in FIG. 7, the holes 21a extend through the frontand rear sides of the body 21 in respectively aligned relation withrespect to each other; and preferably, the holes 21a are arranged infixed vertically spaced-apart relation, a normal spacing of 2" betweenthe adjacent holes 21a being recommended by way of illustration; whichholes 21a accommodate adjustment of the vertically mounted position ofthe cooperating adapter member 30 upon the upper end of the body 21, asexplained more fully below.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, it will be observed that theadapter device 30 is of composite construction comprising a rigidbody-31 having an upstanding leg opening formed therethrough that isadapted nicely to receive in either end thereof the upper end of thebody 21 of any one of the legs 20, the leg opening formed through thebody 31 having a horizontal section that substantially conforms to thatof the outside of the leg 21; whereby the leg opening formed through thebody 31 has a substantially square horizontal section, as illustrated.Accordingly, the adapter device 30 may be mounted upon the upper end ofthe body 21 in either of two reversely related positions by theinsertion of the extreme upper end of the body 21 through thecorresponding open end of the leg opening formed through the body 31;whereby any one of the adapter devices 30 may be mounted upon the upperend of the body 21 of any one of the legs 20 in either one of its twopositions mentioned, for a purpose more fully described hereinafter.

Also, two longitudinally spaced-apart upstanding reinforcing plates 32are respectively rigidly secured, as by Welding, to the front and rearsides of body 31, as best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 7; whichreinforcing plates 32 have a plurality of horizontally aligned holes 32aformed therethrough that are adapted to cooperate with a pin, or key,40, indicated in FIG. 5; which key 40 also cooperates with the holes 21aformed in the upper end of the body.21 of the one of the legs 20 that isreceived in the leg opening provided in the body 31. In the arrangement,the holes 32a are disposed in vertically spaced-apart relation,employing different vertical spacings therebetween, so as to accommodateselective vertical adjustment of the adapter device 30 upon the upperend of the body 21 of the cooperating leg 20. For example: the top hole32a may be spaced 2%" above the adjacent intermediate hole 32a; thebottom hole 32a may be spaced 2%" below the adjacent intermediate hole32a; and the two intermediate holes 32a may be spaced apart 2" withrespect to each other. This arrangement accommodates the verticaladjustment of the body 31 of the adapter device 30, when the adapterdevice 30 is mounted in either of its two positions upon the upper endof the body 21, in vertically spaced-apart positions respectivelydisplaced by /2".

After the body 31 of the adapter device 30 has been set in the desiredvertically adjusted position upon the upper end of the body 21 of theleg 20, the pin 40 is inserted in the horizontal direction through thealigned holes 32a and 21a respectively formed in the reinforcing plates32 and in the body 21 of the leg 20, thereby to restrain the adapterdevice 30 in its vertically adjusted position with respect to the upperend of the body 21 of the leg 20 that is projected through the legopening formed through the body 31. In the arrangement, the pin 40 maybe secured to the adapter device 30 by a suitable section of flexiblechain, not shown, so as to accommodate the insertion and removal of thepin 40 with respect to the holes 32a, as described above, without dangerof loss of the pin 40 from the adapter device 30.

Continuing with the construction and arrangement of the adapter device30, it will be observed, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, that the samecomprises a rigid hollow box-like transition section 33 rigidly carriedby the body 31 and extending laterally inwardly therefrom; and the innerend of the transition section 33 rigidly carries a laterally extendingrigid tubular primary projection 34 that is located substantiallysymmetrical with respect to the opposite ends of the body 31. Also, theinner end of the transition section 33 rigidly carries a longitudinallyextending rigid arm 35 that is located substantially symmetrical withrespect to the opposite ends of the body 31; which arm 35 issubstantially U-shaped in vertical section, as best illustrated in FIGS.3 and 4. The extreme outer end of the arm 35 rigidly carries a rigidsecondary projection 36 extending in the lateral direction.

In the arrangement, the primary projection 34 and the secondaryprojection 36 are located in longitudinally spaced-apart relation andseparated by a fixed distance corresponding to that of the separation ofthe'primary hole and the secondary hole 16b in each of the hole setsprovided in the opposite ends of the two said members '16 of the base11. Specifically, the primary projection 34 has a transverse sectionsubstantially conforming to that of any one of the primary holes 16a;whereby the primary projection 34 is substantially square in transversesection, as illustrated. Similarly, the secondary projection 36 has atransverse section substantially conforming to that of any one of thesecondary holes 16b; whereby the secondary projection 36 issubstantially round in transverse section, as illustrated.

In the construction of the adapter device 30, it is preferable that thevarious elements 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 be formed of sheet metal, sheetsteel being the normal construction material recommended. Of course, theseveral elements mentioned of the adapter device 30 are suitably rigidlysecured together, as by welding, so as to provide a strong rigid unifiedconstruction.

In view of the foregoing description of the construction and arrangementof the adapter device 30, it will be understood that when the same isassembled in one of its two positions upon the upper end of the body 21of the cooperating leg 20, that the same is adapted for readycooperation with two of the hole sets respectively disposed in firstdiametrically opposed ends of the two side member 16, and that when thesame is assembled in the other of its two positions upon the upper endof the body 21 of the cooperating leg 20, that the same is adapted forready cooperation with the other two of the hole sets respectivelydisposed in second diametrically opposed ends of the two side members16. More particularly, when the adapter device 30 is properly assembledupon the upper end of the body 21 of the cooperating leg 20, and lockedin place, employing the cooperating pin 40, in the manner previouslyexplained, the primary and secondary projections 34 and 36 are properlyrelated to be inserted into the respectively cooperating primary andsecondary holes 16a and 16b provided in the adjacent end of the sidemember 16; whereby the adapter member 30 in its consequent operativeposition operatively connects the cooperating leg 20 to thecorresponding end of the corresponding side member 16 of the base 11;whereby the leg 20 is in position to support the corresponding corner ofthe shipping container 10 upon the ground or earth through the foot 22in contact with the earth.

Recapitulating: it will be understood that when the adapter device isassembled in one of its two positions upon the upper end of the 'body 21of any cooperating one of the legs 20, the arm extends toward the rightwith respect to the centrally disposed primary projections 34; wherebythe secondary projection 36 is located toward the right with respect tothe primary projection 34; which arrangement of the two projections 34and 36 is proper for cooperation with two diametrically located holesets formed in the base 11. On the other hand, when the adapter device30 is assembled in the other of its two positions upon the upper end ofthe body 21 of any cooperating one of the legs 20, the arm 35 extendstoward the left with respect to the centrally disposed primaryprojection 34; whereby the secondary projection 36 is located toward theleft with respect to the primary projection 34; which arrangement of thetwo projections 34 and 36 is proper for cooperation with the other twodiammetrically located hole sets formed in the base 11. Accordingly, itwill be appreciated that the symmetrical disposition of the primary andsecondary projections 34 and 36 with respect to the transition section33, and consequently with respect to the body 31, brings about theelimination of the usual necessity for right-hand and lefthand adapterdevices; whereby all of the adapter devices 30 are identical, since theproper assembly of any one of the adapter devices 30 upon the upper endof the body 21 of any one of the legs 20 causes the one adapter device30 to be in proper position to cooperate with the desired hole setprovided in the corner of the base 11.

The shipping container 10 is of substantially conventional construction;whereby there is provided a lading compartment therein positionedbetween the coordinate walls 12, 13, 14 and 15, in the usual manner;whereby one of the upstanding walls 14 or 15 is provided with a doorway,not shown, carrying a cooperating door, not shown, so as to accommodateloading and unloading of the goods or merchandise with respect to thelading compartment defined in the shipping container 10. In theutilization of the shipping container 10, the same may be transported orcarried either upon the chassis of a road semitrailer, or upon the deckof a railway car of the piggyback type, in a manner well understood.Also the shipping container 10 is frequently stored in a freight yard,or terminal, wherein it is supported upon the four legs 20 until thesame is loaded upon the chassis of a cooperating road semitrailer, orupon the deck of a railway car. Incident to loading of the shippingcontainer 10 upon either of the mobile vehicles mentioned, the four legs20, together with the four adapter devices 30, secured thereto, aredetached from the base 11; whereby the four legs 20 and the four adapterdevices 30 may be retained at the freight yard for use in the support ofanother container 10, as a large number of the shipping containers 10are normally handled daily at the freight yard, since frequentinterchange of the freight containers 10 between road semitrailers andrailway cars is required.

Further, it is contemplated that the corners of the bases 11 of thevarious freight containers 10, regardless of the lengths of the freightcontainers 10 between the end walls 14 thereof, will be identical sothat any one of the adapter devices 30 may be detachably secured in aready manner to any one of the four corners of the base 11 of any one ofthe freight containers 10; whereby the adapter devices 30 and the legs20 are employed commonly to support all of the shipping containers 10,without reference to the lengths of the various shipping containers 10.

When the shipping container 10 occupies its supported position upon thefour legs 20, the same may be readily moved in the longitudinaldirection by skidding it along the ground, as indicated in FIG. 8, byvirtue of the construction and arrangement of the four feet 22, as bestshown in FIG. 3. Also, in this connection, it will be appreciated thatthere is no substantial pivoting of the shipping container 10 relativeto the four supporting legs 20, incident to longitudinal skidding of theshipping container 10 along the ground, by virtue of the strong, rigidconstruction and arrangement of the four adapter devices 30.Specifically, in the adapter device 30, the arm 35 is rigid and the tworigid projections 34 and 36 are spaced well apart in the longitudinaldirection so as to prevent any turning action of the primary projection34 in the cooperating primary hole 18a provided in the base 11 of theshipping container 10.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided animproved combination that may be assembled using any one of a pluralityof individual shipping containers of different lengths, any four of agreat plurality of individual supporting legs, and any four of a greatplurality of individual adapter devices for detachably connecting thefour respective supporting legs to the four respective corners of thebase of the one shipping container.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be thepreferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to coverin the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a shipping container including a substantiallyrectangular base of rigid structure and provided with a pair oflongitudinally extending side members arranged in laterally spaced-apartrelation and a pair of laterally extending end members arranged inlongitudinally spaced-apart relation, each of said side members having apair of hole sets formed therein respectively adjacent to the oppositeend portions thereof, each of said hole sets including a primary holelocated adjacent to one end of one of said side members and extendinglaterally thereinto and a secondary hole located adjacent to saidprimary hole and spaced longitudinally a fixed distance therefrom andaway from said one end of said one side member and extending laterallythereinto; four substantially identical upstanding legs for supportingsaid shipping container adjacent to the four corners of said base; andfour substantially identical adapter devices respectively detachablyconnecting said four legs to said base adjacent to the four cornersthereof; each of said adapter devices comprising a rigid body having anupstanding leg opening formed therethrough that is adapted removably toreceive in either end thereof the upper end of any one of said legs,whereby said adapter device may be mounted in either of two reverselyrelated positions upon the upper end of said one received leg and thenmay be adjusted vertically in its mounted position upon the upper end ofsaid one received leg, a part carried by said body and cooperating withsaid one received leg for restraining said adapter device in itsvertically adjusted mounted position upon the upper end of said onereceived log, a rigid primary projection rigidly carried by said bodyand extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said primary projectionhaving a transverse section substantially corresponding to that of anyone of said primary holes, a rigid arm rigidly carried by said body andextending longitudinally outwardly therefrom, and a rigid secondaryprojection rigidly carried by said arm and extending laterally outwardlytherefrom, said secondary projection having a transverse sectionsubstantially corresponding to that of any one of said secondary holes,said primary projection and said secondary projection being disposed insubstantially parallel longitudinally spaced-apart relation andseparated by substantially said fixed distance; whereby any one of saidadapter devices mounted in a coordinate one of its two positions uponthe upper end of any one of said legs may be employed to support any oneof the four corners of said base with'the primary and secondaryprojections carried by said one adapter device extending laterally intothe respective primary and secondary holes of the corresponding hole setdisposed adjacent to said one corner of said base.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, and further comprising fourfeet respectively carried by the lower ends of said legs and adapted toengage the ground, each of said feet being of the skid type, wherebysaid feet accommodate skidding in the longitudinal direction along theground of said supported shipping container without any substantialpivoting of said legs with respect to said base.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said legs andeach of said leg openings have complementary and substantially squaretransverse sections.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said primaryprojections and each of said primary holes have complementary andsubstantially square transverse sections, and each of said secondaryprojections and each of said secondary holes have complementary andsubstantially round transverse sections.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said legs isformed of hollow tubular structure, and each of said adapter devices isformed principally of sheet metal and of hollow structure.

6. In combination, a shipping container including a substantiallyrectangular base of rigid structure and provided with a pair oflongitudinally extending side members arranged in laterally spaced-apartrelation and a pair of laterally extending end members arranged inlongitudinally spaced-apart relation, each of said side members having apair of hole sets formed therein respectively adjacent to the oppositeend portions thereof, each of said hole sets including a primary holelocated adjacent to one end of one of said side members and extendinglaterally thereinto and a secondary hole located adjacent to saidprimary hole and spaced longitudinally a fixed distance therefrom andaway from said one end of said one side member and extending laterallythereinto; an upstanding ,leg for supporting any one of the fourcarriers of said base; and an adapter device detachably connecting saidleg to said base adjacent to said one corner thereof; said adapterdevice comprising a rigid body having an upstanding leg opening formedtherethrough that is adapted removably to receive in either end thereofthe upper end of said leg, whereby said adapter device may be mounted ineither of two reversely related positions upon the upper end of said legand then may be adjusted vertically in its mounted position upon theupper end of said leg, a part carried by said body and cooperating withsaid leg for restraining said adapter device in its vertically adjustedmounted position upon the upper end of said leg, a rigid primaryprojection rig idly carried by said body and extending laterallyoutwardly therefrom, said primary projection having a transverse sectionsubstantially corresponding to that of any one of said primary holes, arigid arm rigidly carried by said body and extending longitudinallyoutwardly therefrom, and a rigid secondary projection rigidly carried bysaid arm and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said secondaryprojection having a transverse section substantially corresponding tothat of any one of said secondary holes, said primary projection andsaid secondary projection being disposed in substantially parallellongitudinally spaced-apart relation and separated by substantially saidfixed distance; whereby said adapter device mounted in a coordinate oneof its two positions upon the upper end of said leg may be employed tosupport any one of the four corners of said base with said primaryprojection and said secondary projection extending laterally into therespective primary and secondary holes of the corresponding hole setdisposed adjacent to said one corner of said base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,742,877 4/1956 Stoner 248l88 XR3,017,153 1/1962 Johnson 248-188 XR 3,017,231 1/1962 Johnson 248l3,063,667 11/1962 Doty et al. 248-151 XR ROY D. FRAZIER, PrimaryExaminer.

ROBERT P. SEITTER, Assistant Examiner.

